Celtics-Lakers Preview

By GREG BEACHAM
Posted Jun 16 2010 11:57PM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Even when Lamar Odom was a kid with limitless imagination growing up on New York's playground courts, he thinks he might have dismissed Thursday's season finale as a bit too extravagant.

When the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA finals, Odom realizes it's a fantasy come true for any basketball player with the audacity to dream this big.

``It's historic, especially when you talk about these teams and what they stand for, the pride,'' the Lakers forward said Wednesday. ``This is what you envision when you're a kid in your backyard. Counting down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...''

Another memorable chapter in the NBA's best rivalry will end with a coronation at Staples Center, where the defending champion Lakers will try to earn their 16th banner while denying Boston its unprecedented 18th title in the clubs' second finals meeting in three years.

For the fifth time in their 12 finals meetings, Boston and Los Angeles need all seven games to decide it. Each previous time it went to Game 7, the Celtics won - but when the current Lakers and Celtics take the court for the NBA finals' first Game 7 since 2005 and just its second in the past 16 years, most will try awfully hard not to think about the history and pressure heaped on their shoulders.

It's fine for kids and historians to savor this scenario, but Kobe Bryant knows it's not a good idea for players to get caught up in it.

``It's got nothing to do with me,'' said Bryant, the series' leading scorer with 29.5 points per game. ``(When) I look back, years from now, or even when I was a kid, (if) you'd talk about being in this situation, I'd be really excited. But when I'm in the moment right now, I've got to play. I've got to focus on that. I can't focus on the hype about it.''

Although Boston has the rivalry's Game 7 history on its side, the Celtics have plenty stacked against them after an embarrassing 89-67 loss in Game 6 Tuesday night. Most glaringly, Boston won't have starting center Kendrick Perkins, who sprained multiple ligaments in his right knee in the first quarter.

The Celtics' starting five has never lost a playoff series, but that five must change for Game 7. Although Perkins is a role player next to Boston's Big Three and point guard Rajon Rondo, the Celtics must hope veteran Rasheed Wallace and youngster Glen Davis can make up for Perkins' inside defense and rebounding.

No visiting team has won an NBA championship in Game 7 since the Washington Bullets did it in 1978, yet the Celtics are a whole lot more worried about the Lakers than the Hollywood crowd.

``I just love the pressure,'' said Paul Pierce, who leads the Celtics with 18 points per game. ``I love the fact that I get to play against the Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 7 on the road. I love the fact that if I don't win multiple championships that I probably won't be mentioned amongst the other guys in Celtic history that have done it before. That type of stuff motivates me. That's what the challenge is for me, every time I put on this Celtic uniform.''

Pierce is usually the only player in this series who embraces its history, yet it's too soon to say where these finals will fit in the rivalry's annals. Although the games had been uniformly competitive before the Lakers' blowout win in Game 6, they haven't been spectacularly played, with gritty defense trumping offense in most of the major moments.

Ray Allen's historic 3-point shooting barrage in Game 2, the Celtics' gritty victories in games 4 and 5, the Lakers' blowout win in Game 6 - all will be dwarfed by what happens in the deciding game.

``I guess it's going to be another decade that people look back and see the formation of this rivalry again,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. ``The '90s was missed, and the '70s was missed, but the '60s and the '80s were big decades. It seems to skip a decade, doesn't it?''

The Celtics have more experience in seventh games than the Lakers over the past three years, playing in two deciding games in 2008 and two more last year. Boston coach Doc Rivers thinks his club's big-game toughness mostly grew from those high stakes.

``It's the ultimate players' game,'' said Rivers, a New York guard when the Knicks lost Game 7 of the 1994 finals in Houston. ``Unfortunately, I've coached in a lot of them over the last few years - or fortunately. All the things you've worked on all year, you have to do it, and execute it, and trust and play.''

Los Angeles is in just its second Game 7 of the past three seasons, but that's because the Lakers have been better at avoiding trouble while winning 10 playoff series since Pau Gasol joined them in 2008. When faced with elimination Tuesday for the first time in these playoffs, the Lakers responded with determination at least partially born from fear, according to Gasol.

``I think about how bad and how much it would hurt if we don't come out as winners,'' Gasol said. ``I keep that thought in my mind sometimes, just to understand that I have to do everything possible out there to help my team in any way I can. You want to leave everything you have out there, and compete as hard as you've ever competed.''

Los Angeles has won three more titles since Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal returned the club to NBA prominence by winning the 2000 championship, but the Lakers clinched all three of those crowns on the road. They haven't celebrated at home since beating the Indiana Pacers a decade ago.

The Lakers weren't discussing the prospect of a party on Figueroa Street during their light workout Wednesday, and the Celtics weren't making plans for a raucous plane ride back to Boston. Given the weight of history and the intensity of this rivalry, both teams thought it best not to think beyond Thursday night.

``It's all-out,'' Boston's Kevin Garnett said. ``It's for the marbles, it's for everything, all-out. You save nothing. You leave nothing.''

Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Revenge! Lakers outlast Celtics in Game 7 for NBA title

By Bryan Chu, for NBA.com
Posted Friday June 18, 2010 3:20AM

LOS ANGELES (NBA.com exclusive) -- Andrew Bynum popped champagne in the middle of the hallway outside the Lakers locker room.

Ron Artest lost his voice, screaming at the top of his lungs while clutching what the Lakers had worked for all season.

But the moment that may very well stand out was the image of Kobe Bryant circling the court, ball in hand while pointing to the crowd as purple and gold confetti and streamers fell from the Staples Center rafters.

The celebration was just starting as the Lakers gutted out an 83-79 victory over the Celtics Thursday in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to win back-to-back championships and notch the franchise's 16th title, one shy of tying arch-rival Boston.

"Well, it's done," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who won his 11th title. "It wasn't well done, but it was done.

"And we did it with perseverance."

The Lakers have now won their fifth championship in 11 years. Next season they will look to be the first team to 3-peat since they accomplished that feat from 2000-02.

Bryant was named the Finals MVP for the second straight season. Despite struggling in the series finale, he came through when it counted the most. Bryant scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the final period, which included 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. He also had 15 rebounds.

After the game, Bryant admitted to having pressed too much as he struggled from the field, shooting a postseason-worst 6-for-24 from the field.

"I wanted it so, so bad," said Bryant, who now joins Laker great Magic Johnson with his fifth ring. "The more I tried to push, the more it kept getting away from me. I'm just glad that my teammates really got us back in the game."

When asked what this championship meant individually, Bryant had some fun.

"Just got one more than Shaq," he said. "You can take that to the bank. You know how I am. I don't forget anything."

With Bryant struggling, it was the other Lakers who pulled through. Pau Gasol finished with 19 points and 18 rebounds, while Artest came up big with 20 points and five steals and Derek Fisher added 10.

Artest quite possibly played his best game as a Laker. During one stretch in the second quarter, he scored 10 of his team's 13 points. He had several key defensive stops as well.

"Ron Artest was the most valuable player tonight," Jackson said. "He brought life to our team, he brought life to the crowd."

When the Lakers were receiving their 2009 championship rings during the season opener, Artest sat alone in the locker room. Now he has one of his own.

"Unbelievable. Unbelievable," said Artest as he took a swig of champagne. "When we won, I didn't know we won.

"I cried earlier before the game. How stupid was that? And then when you win you don't cry. How dumb is that?"

This championship was especially sweet for the Lakers, who exactly two years ago lost in the 2008 Finals to the Celtics. They also beat Boston for the first time in a Finals Game 7 after losing all four of their previous meetings.

"We learned from the disappointment and the frustration and the anger that came from losing that series," said Derek Fisher, whose team became just the seventh team ever to face a 3-2 deficit in the Finals and come back to win the final two games.

It wasn't easy, however.

As a team, the Lakers shot 32.5 percent from the field to the Celtics' 40.8. Only Fisher shot over 50 percent from the field (4-for-6). They struggled from the line, making 25-for-37, but they made up for it by pulling down 23 offensive rebounds and turning the ball over 11 times to the Celtics' 15.

The Lakers played from behind for virtually the entire game. They fought back from nine down at the end of the first quarter. Then they scratched back from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter.

And when it came down to the fourth quarter, the game was filled with pressure-packed moments.

"I was nervous as a mother," Artest said.

Down six with 1:30 left, the Celtics answered with Rasheed Wallace draining a 3-pointer. Then Artest responded with a three. After the make, he blew kisses to the crowd and pointed to the Celtics bench.

"What a perfect time to blow kisses at the crowd," he said. "What a shot. What a shot. I always wanted to hit a shot like that. That's why I took that shot."

Seconds later Ray Allen, who had 13 points on 14 shots, answered from the left corner to cut Los Angeles' lead to 79-76. Off a Bryant missed 3-pointer, Gasol recorded his ninth -- and quite possibly biggest -- offensive rebound of the season. The extra opportunity led to Bryant getting fouled, which was Wallace's sixth of the game. Bryant hit a pair of free throws to give the Lakers an 81-76 lead with 25.7 seconds left in the game.

Out of the timeout Allen had his 3-point attempt deflected, and Rajon Rondo corralled the rebound and sank a triple from the right corner to trim the deficit to 81-79. The Lakers' Sasha Vujacic checked in and iced the game when he drained a pair of free throws, giving Los Angeles an 83-79 edge with 11.7 seconds. After a missed 3-pointer by Rondo, Gasol chucked the ball up court to Bryant, who then ran the clock out.

Following the loss, the Celtics were emotional.

"Well there's a lot of crying in our locker room, a lot of people who care," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I don't think there was a dry eye. A lot of hugs, a lot of people feeling awful."

The loss didn't diminish what this season has meant to Rivers, however.

"It was the craziest, most emotional group I've ever coached in my life," he said. "I told them, they made me reach to places that I never thought I needed to go...so that's what makes (this loss) tough."

In the loss, five Celtics finished in double figures. Paul Pierce had a team-high 18 points and Kevin Garnett tallied 17. Rondo finished with 14 points and 10 assists.

Wallace was huge in the absence of Kendrick Perkins, who missed the final game with torn ligaments in his right knee. Wallace, who scored 11 points, had a throwback game, circa 2000 Trailblazer or 2004 Piston. He was working in the post, draining fallaway jumpers and banking in turnarounds.

Despite a balanced attack and leading most of the game, Boston seemingly crumbled down the stretch. They were outscored 30-22 in the final period and couldn't stop the Lakers without fouling, as evidenced by LA's 16-for-21 performance from the line in the fourth quarter.

"This is probably one of the hardest feelings I've felt in my lifetime," Allen said.

Before the game, Jackson spoke of how every game has a "moment of truth." While Artest's 3-pointer could easily fill that moment, the play that stands out came from Fisher.

With his team struggling to make a basket, Fisher came up with a huge 3-pointer to tie the game at 64-64 with 6:13 left in the game. That basket sparked an 11-0 run and the Lakers never looked back.

"That's just who he is," Bryant said. "There's not enough words of praise that I can use to describe him and how I feel about him."

• Celtics: Gaffney, Lafayette, Perkins
• Lakers: Morrison

• Celtics: Pierce
• Lakers: Artest

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #17 Joe Crawford, #48 Scott Foster
• Attendance: 18997
• Duration: 2:47

Boston Celtics (50-33)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Bynum vs Wallace (Artest gains possession)
	11:46	Bynum Jump Shot: Missed
	11:45	Gasol Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	11:45	Gasol Tip Shot: Missed
	11:45	Team Rebound
	11:35	Bynum Jump Shot: Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	11:34
Rondo Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)	11:21
	11:01	Artest Jump Shot: Missed
	11:00	Gasol Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)
	10:55 [LAL 3-0]	Fisher 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Gasol (1 AST)
	10:45	Gasol Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Wallace Turnaround Fade Away shot: Made (2 PTS)	10:32 [BOS 2-3]
	10:07	Gasol Jump Shot: Missed
	10:06	Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	10:05	Bynum Layup Shot: Missed
	10:04	Gasol Rebound (Off:3 Def:0)
	10:02	Gasol Layup Shot: Missed Block: Wallace (1 BLK)
	10:00	Gasol Rebound (Off:4 Def:0)
	09:58 [LAL 5-2]	Gasol Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Wallace Jump Bank Shot: Made (4 PTS)	09:41 [BOS 4-5]
	09:21	Gasol Jump Shot: Missed
	09:20	Gasol Rebound (Off:5 Def:0)
Wallace Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	09:19
	09:19	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	09:19	Team Rebound
	09:19	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Wallace Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	09:18
Garnett Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Rondo (1 AST)	09:04 [BOS 6-5]
	08:51 [LAL 7-6]	Bynum Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Fisher (1 AST)
Wallace 3pt Shot: Missed	08:32
	08:31	Bryant Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Rondo Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	08:31
	08:18	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	08:16	Bryant Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	08:08	Bryant Layup Shot: Missed
	08:07	Bryant Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	08:07	Bryant Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)
Rondo Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Garnett (1 AST)	07:48 [BOS 8-7]
	07:30	Fisher Jump Shot: Missed
Wallace Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:29
Rondo Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)	07:24 [BOS 10-7]
	06:54	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	06:54
Pierce Jump Shot: Missed	06:41
	06:40	Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	06:26 [LAL 9-10]	Gasol Turnaround Hook Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	06:12
	06:11	Team Rebound
	05:55	Gasol Jump Shot: Missed Block: Garnett (1 BLK)
	05:55	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:55	Jump Ball Gasol vs Garnett (Rondo gains possession)
Team Rebound	05:55
Rondo Driving Layup Shot: Missed	05:48
	05:46	Gasol Rebound (Off:5 Def:1)
	05:36	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
	05:34	Bryant Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)
	05:28	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Wallace Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	05:26
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	05:17
	05:15	Bynum Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
Garnett Foul : Personal (1 PF)	05:10
Wallace Substitution replaced by Davis	05:10
	04:55 [LAL 11-10]	Fisher Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Artest (1 AST)
Allen 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Rondo (2 AST)	04:42 [BOS 13-11]
	04:21	Artest Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO)
Allen Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO)	04:19
	04:04	Gasol Hook Shot: Missed Block: Garnett (2 BLK)
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	03:58
Garnett Alley Oop Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Rondo (3 AST)	03:54 [BOS 15-11]
	03:36 [LAL 13-15]	Bryant Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Gasol (2 AST)
Davis Reverse Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Allen (1 AST)	03:19 [BOS 17-13]
Allen Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	02:58
Team Timeout : Regular	02:58
	02:58	Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom
	02:58 [LAL 14-17]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	02:58	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	02:57
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	02:45
	02:44	Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	02:27	Gasol Foul : Offensive (2 PF)
	02:27	Gasol Turnover : Foul (1 TO)
	02:27	Gasol Substitution replaced by Bynum
Pierce Pullup Jump shot: Made (2 PTS)	02:16 [BOS 19-14]
	02:00	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	01:59
Davis Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Rondo (4 AST)	01:43 [BOS 21-14]
	01:25	Fisher Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	01:22
Garnett Foul : Offensive (2 PF)	01:20
Garnett Turnover : Foul (1 TO)	01:20
Garnett Substitution replaced by Wallace	01:20
Rondo Substitution replaced by Robinson	01:20
	01:20	Fisher Substitution replaced by Farmar
	00:56.9	Farmar Running Jump Shot: Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	00:54.9
	00:35.5	Bynum Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Davis Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	00:35.5 [BOS 22-14]
	00:35.5	Artest Substitution replaced by Vujacic
Pierce Substitution replaced by Allen	00:35.5
Davis Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)	00:35.5 [BOS 23-14]
	00:11.9	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:10.8	Bynum Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	00:10.8	Bynum Tip Shot: Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	00:07.9
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.7
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 1st Quarter
Boston Celtics (50-33)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
Wallace Layup Shot: Missed Block: Odom (1 BLK)	11:47
	11:45	Bryant Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)
	11:37 [LAL 16-23]	Bryant Running Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS)
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	11:24
Wallace Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	11:23
Davis Layup Shot: Missed	11:18
	11:16	Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Allen Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	11:12
	11:12	Odom Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	11:12	Team Rebound
	11:12	Bryant Substitution replaced by Artest
Allen Substitution replaced by Pierce	11:12
	11:12 [LAL 17-23]	Odom Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)
	10:59	Vujacic Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Pierce Jump Shot: Missed	10:47
Rondo Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	10:46
Rondo Jump Shot: Missed	10:34
	10:33	Vujacic Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	10:14	Farmar 3pt Shot: Missed
	10:13	Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	10:11 [LAL 19-23]	Artest Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	10:05
Davis Substitution replaced by Garnett	10:05
Wallace 3pt Shot: Missed	09:52
	09:51	Artest Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	09:33	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
	09:31	Bynum Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)
	09:26	Vujacic 3pt Shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	09:25
	09:23	Farmar Foul : Personal (1 PF)
	09:23	Bynum Substitution replaced by Gasol
	09:23	Vujacic Substitution replaced by Bryant
Allen Substitution replaced by Allen	09:23
Wallace Layup Shot: Missed	09:10
	09:08	Gasol Rebound (Off:5 Def:2)
	08:48 [LAL 21-23]	Gasol Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Bryant (1 AST)
Garnett Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)	08:25
	08:22 [LAL 23-23]	Artest Driving Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Allen Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)	08:06
	07:40	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	07:39	Artest Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	07:38 [LAL 25-23]	Artest Putback Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Rondo Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO)	07:25
	07:21	Farmar Layup Shot: Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	07:19
Rondo Driving Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Pierce (1 AST)	07:14 [BOS 25-25]
	06:46	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	06:45
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	06:36
	06:35	Gasol Rebound (Off:5 Def:3)
	06:23	Gasol Jump Shot: Missed
Allen Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	06:21
Rondo Jump Shot: Missed	05:59
Team Rebound	05:59
	05:59	Farmar Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)
Timeout : Official	05:59
	05:59	Farmar Substitution replaced by Fisher
Garnett Reverse Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)	05:42 [BOS 27-25]
	05:26	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	05:23	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:2)
	05:18	Odom Jump Shot: Missed
Allen Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	05:18
	05:18	Artest Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)
Allen Jump Shot: Missed	05:00
	04:58	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)
Garnett Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	04:53
	04:53	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	04:53	Team Rebound
Garnett Substitution replaced by Davis	04:53
	04:53 [LAL 26-27]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)
Pierce Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Wallace (1 AST)	04:42 [BOS 29-26]
	04:23	Artest Jump Shot: Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	04:21
Allen Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (3 TO)	04:14
	03:57 [LAL 29-29]	Artest 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Fisher (2 AST)
Pierce Jump Shot: Missed	03:41
	03:39	Fisher Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	03:22	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	03:21	Gasol Rebound (Off:6 Def:3)
	03:21	Gasol Tip Shot: Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	03:19
	03:15	Fisher Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Allen Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)	03:15 [BOS 30-29]
Allen Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	03:15 [BOS 31-29]
	03:04	Gasol Layup Shot: Missed Block: Wallace (2 BLK)
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:6)	03:03
	02:48	Fisher Foul : Personal (2 PF)
	02:48	Team Timeout : Regular
	02:48	Fisher Substitution replaced by Brown
Pierce Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS)	02:48 [BOS 32-29]
Pierce Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)	02:48 [BOS 33-29]
	02:34 [LAL 31-33]	Bryant Pullup Jump shot: Made (8 PTS)
Wallace Turnaround Bank shot: Made (6 PTS)	02:11 [BOS 35-31]
	01:55	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	01:54
Pierce 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Allen (2 AST)	01:42 [BOS 38-31]
Pierce Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	01:22
	01:22	Double Technical - Artest, Pierce
	01:22 [LAL 32-38]	Artest Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)
	01:22 [LAL 33-38]	Artest Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)
Wallace Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	01:01
	00:59.6	Gasol Rebound (Off:6 Def:4)
Wallace Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	00:43.6
	00:43.6 [LAL 34-38]	Artest Free Throw 1 of 2 (12 PTS)
	00:43.6	Gasol Substitution replaced by Bynum
	00:43.6	Artest Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	00:42.9
	00:34.1	Bynum Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Pierce Free Throw 1 of 2 (10 PTS)	00:34.1 [BOS 39-34]
Wallace Substitution replaced by Scalabrine	00:34.1
	00:34.1	Bynum Substitution replaced by Powell
Pierce Free Throw 2 of 2 (11 PTS)	00:34.1 [BOS 40-34]
	00:11.9	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)	00:10.9
Davis Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	00:09.0
	00:09.0	Artest Substitution replaced by Vujacic
	00:09.0	Odom Substitution replaced by Farmar
Scalabrine Substitution replaced by Allen	00:09.0
End of 2nd Quarter
Boston Celtics (50-33)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
Garnett Alley Oop Layup shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Rondo (5 AST)	11:48 [BOS 42-34]
	11:31	Artest Layup Shot: Missed Block: Pierce (1 BLK)
	11:29	Artest Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)
	11:28 [LAL 36-42]	Artest Putback Layup Shot: Made (14 PTS)
	11:09	Bryant Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Allen Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	10:56
	10:54	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)
Rondo Foul : Personal (2 PF)	10:51
	10:34	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:7)	10:33
Garnett Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Rondo (6 AST)	10:25 [BOS 44-36]
	10:25	Bryant Foul : Shooting (2 PF)
Garnett Free Throw 1 of 1 (11 PTS)	10:25 [BOS 45-36]
	10:08	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
	10:07	Bynum Rebound (Off:4 Def:2)
	10:02	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Wallace Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	10:01
Rondo Floating Jump shot: Made (8 PTS)	09:46 [BOS 47-36]
	09:45	Team Timeout : Regular
	09:22	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Wallace Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	09:21
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	09:02
	09:01	Artest Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)
	08:53	Artest Foul : Offensive (2 PF)
	08:53	Artest Turnover : Foul (2 TO)
Pierce Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	08:27
Rondo Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	08:25
Rondo Driving Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)	08:24 [BOS 49-36]
Wallace Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	08:15
	08:15 [LAL 37-49]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
Pierce Substitution replaced by Allen	08:15
	08:15	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Rondo Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)	08:13
Allen Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO)	07:56
	07:43	Team Timeout : Short
	07:43	Bynum Substitution replaced by Odom
	07:37 [LAL 39-49]	Bryant Running Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Odom (1 AST)
Rondo Hook Shot: Missed	07:14
	07:13	Team Rebound
Allen Substitution replaced by Pierce	07:13
	06:56 [LAL 41-49]	Gasol Turnaround Hook Shot: Made (8 PTS)
Garnett Driving Layup Shot: Made (13 PTS)	06:30 [BOS 51-41]
	06:12 [LAL 43-51]	Fisher Running Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Odom (2 AST)
Rondo Jump Shot: Missed	05:45
	05:44	Odom Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	05:39	Artest Layup Shot: Missed
	05:38	Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	05:38 [LAL 45-51]	Odom Putback Layup Shot: Made (3 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	05:38
Allen Jump Shot: Missed	05:25
Wallace Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)	05:23
Pierce Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO)	05:12
	05:06	Artest Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO)
Wallace 3pt Shot: Missed	05:03
	05:01	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:5)
	04:55	Bryant Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)
Pierce 3pt Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Rondo (7 AST)	04:47 [BOS 54-45]
	04:21	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Wallace Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)	04:20
Pierce Jump Shot: Missed	03:58
	03:57	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:6)
	03:48 [LAL 47-54]	Odom Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS)
Wallace Fade Away Bank shot: Made (8 PTS)	03:27 [BOS 56-47]
	03:08 [LAL 49-56]	Bryant Jump Shot: Made (13 PTS)
Garnett Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Gasol (1 BLK)	02:46
	02:44	Odom Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
Wallace Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	02:37
Wallace Substitution replaced by Davis	02:37
	02:37	Fisher Substitution replaced by Brown
	02:37 [LAL 50-56]	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
	02:37 [LAL 51-56]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Pierce Jump Shot: Missed	02:22
	02:21	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:7)
	02:15	Bryant Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO)
	02:12	Brown Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Rondo Free Throw 1 of 2 (11 PTS)	02:12 [BOS 57-51]
Rondo Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	02:12
Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)	02:10
Davis Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO)	02:08
	01:50	Artest Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (4 TO)
Allen Jump Shot: Missed	01:32
	01:31	Gasol Rebound (Off:6 Def:5)
Davis Foul : Personal (1 PF)	01:24
	01:12	Brown Layup Shot: Missed
	01:11	Odom Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
	01:11	Odom Tip Shot: Missed
	01:03	Odom Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)
	01:03 [LAL 53-57]	Odom Tip Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Davis Layup Shot: Missed	00:47.9
	00:46.9	Gasol Rebound (Off:6 Def:6)
	00:28.9	Artest 3pt Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	00:27.4
Garnett Substitution replaced by Scalabrine	00:27.4
	00:27.4	Bryant Substitution replaced by Farmar
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	00:03.4
Allen Substitution replaced by Allen	00:03.4
	00:01.2	Odom Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
Scalabrine Substitution replaced by Allen	00:01.2
End of 3rd Quarter
Boston Celtics (50-33)		Los Angeles Lakers (58-25)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
	11:43 [LAL 55-57]	Gasol Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS)
Davis Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	11:43
	11:43	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:6)	11:43
Pierce Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)	11:20
	11:07	Vujacic Layup Shot: Missed
	11:07	Team Rebound
Davis Foul : Loose Ball (3 PF)	11:07
	11:07	Artest Substitution replaced by Bryant
Allen Substitution replaced by Allen	11:07
	10:58	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:7)	10:57
	10:42	Vujacic Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Wallace Substitution replaced by Garnett	10:42
	10:42	Vujacic Substitution replaced by Artest
Pierce Jump Shot: Missed	10:30
Rondo Rebound (Off:3 Def:4)	10:28
Rondo Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO)	10:15
	10:12	Artest Layup Shot: Missed Block: Garnett (3 BLK)
	10:12	Team Rebound
	09:57	Odom 3pt Shot: Missed
	09:57	Gasol Rebound (Off:7 Def:6)
	09:56	Bryant Turnover : Lost Ball (4 TO)
	09:54	Bryant Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Garnett Jump Shot: Missed	09:32
	09:31	Gasol Rebound (Off:7 Def:7)
	09:12	Farmar Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
Garnett Layup Shot: Made (15 PTS) Assist: Rondo (8 AST)	09:04 [BOS 59-55]
	09:00	Team Timeout : Regular
Rondo Substitution replaced by Robinson	09:00
Allen Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	08:46
	08:46	Instant Replay - Support Ruling
	08:46 [LAL 56-59]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 3 (14 PTS)
	08:46 [LAL 57-59]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 3 (15 PTS)
	08:46 [LAL 58-59]	Bryant Free Throw 3 of 3 (16 PTS)
Allen Floating Jump shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Garnett (2 AST)	08:26 [BOS 61-58]
	08:03	Artest Jump Shot: Missed
Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:8)	08:02
Robinson Driving Layup Shot: Missed	07:45
	07:45	Team Rebound
	07:29 [LAL 60-61]	Artest Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Gasol (3 AST)
Pierce Foul : Shooting (2 PF)	07:29
	07:29 [LAL 61-61]	Artest Free Throw 1 of 1 (17 PTS)
	07:13	Bryant Foul : Shooting (4 PF)
Davis Substitution replaced by Wallace	07:13
Robinson Substitution replaced by Rondo	07:13
Allen Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	07:13
Team Rebound	07:13
	07:13	Farmar Substitution replaced by Fisher
Allen Free Throw 2 of 2 (8 PTS)	07:13 [BOS 62-61]
	06:55	Gasol Layup Shot: Missed Block: Garnett (4 BLK)
	06:54	Team Rebound
	06:49	Odom 3pt Shot: Missed
	06:49	Gasol Rebound (Off:8 Def:7)
Wallace Foul : Loose Ball (5 PF)	06:49
	06:49	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	06:49	Team Rebound
Wallace Substitution replaced by Davis	06:49
	06:49	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:8)	06:47
	06:29	Fisher Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
Allen Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)	06:29 [BOS 63-61]
Allen Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)	06:29 [BOS 64-61]
	06:12 [LAL 64-64]	Fisher 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Gasol (4 AST)
Rondo Jump Shot: Missed	05:56
	05:56	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:8)
Davis Foul : Loose Ball (4 PF)	05:56
	05:56	Timeout : Official
	05:56 [LAL 65-64]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (17 PTS)
	05:56 [LAL 66-64]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)
Allen Jump Shot: Missed	05:37
	05:36	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:9)
	05:22 [LAL 68-64]	Bryant Fade Away Jumper Shot: Made (20 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	05:21
Davis Substitution replaced by Wallace	05:21
Pierce 3pt Shot: Missed	05:01
	05:00	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:10)
Garnett Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	04:38
	04:38 [LAL 69-64]	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (13 PTS)
	04:38 [LAL 70-64]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (14 PTS)
Allen Driving Finger Roll Layup Shot: Missed	04:20
	04:16	Bryant Rebound (Off:4 Def:11)
	03:57	Bryant Jump Shot: Missed
Garnett Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	03:56
Pierce Turnaround Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Rondo (9 AST)	03:45 [BOS 66-70]
Pierce Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	03:21
	03:21	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	03:21	Team Rebound
	03:21 [LAL 71-66]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (21 PTS)
Garnett Slam Dunk Shot: Made (17 PTS) Assist: Wallace (2 AST)	03:10 [BOS 68-71]
Garnett Foul : Shooting (5 PF)	02:47
	02:47 [LAL 72-68]	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 (15 PTS)
	02:47 [LAL 73-68]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS)
Pierce Jump Shot: Missed	02:29
	02:28	Gasol Rebound (Off:8 Def:8)
Pierce Foul : Personal (4 PF)	02:20
	02:20	Gasol Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	02:20	Team Rebound
	02:20 [LAL 74-68]	Gasol Free Throw 2 of 2 (17 PTS)
	02:14	Artest Foul : Personal (3 PF)
Pierce Free Throw 1 of 2 (17 PTS)	02:14 [BOS 69-74]
Pierce Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)	02:14 [BOS 70-74]
	01:55	Odom 3pt Shot: Missed
Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:9)	01:54
Pierce Layup Shot: Missed Block: Gasol (2 BLK)	01:47
Pierce Rebound (Off:1 Def:9)	01:46
Pierce Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO)	01:45
	01:30 [LAL 76-70]	Gasol Layup Shot: Made (19 PTS)
Team Timeout : Regular	01:30
Wallace 3pt Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Pierce (2 AST)	01:23 [BOS 73-76]
	01:01 [LAL 79-73]	Artest 3pt Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Bryant (2 AST)
Allen 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Rondo (10 AST)	00:51.3 [BOS 76-79]
	00:28.9	Bryant 3pt Shot: Missed
	00:27.9	Gasol Rebound (Off:9 Def:8)
Wallace Foul : Shooting (6 PF)	00:25.7
Wallace Substitution replaced by Davis	00:25.7
	00:25.7 [LAL 80-76]	Bryant Free Throw 1 of 2 (22 PTS)
	00:25.7 [LAL 81-76]	Bryant Free Throw 2 of 2 (23 PTS)
Team Timeout : Short	00:25.7
Davis Substitution replaced by Robinson	00:25.7
Allen 3pt Shot: Missed	00:19.9
Rondo Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)	00:18.9
Rondo 3pt Shot: Made (14 PTS)	00:16.2 [BOS 79-81]
	00:13.0	Team Timeout : Short
	00:13.0	Instant Replay - Support Ruling
	00:13.0	Artest Substitution replaced by Vujacic
Allen Foul : Personal (3 PF)	00:11.7
	00:11.7 [LAL 82-79]	Vujacic Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)
Robinson Substitution replaced by Davis	00:11.7
	00:11.7 [LAL 83-79]	Vujacic Free Throw 2 of 2 (2 PTS)
Team Timeout : Short	00:11.7
	00:11.7	Vujacic Substitution replaced by Artest
Davis Substitution replaced by Robinson	00:11.7
Rondo 3pt Shot: Missed	00:04.9
	00:03.9	Gasol Rebound (Off:9 Def:9)
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa			ABC	National	9:00 pm ET
canada			TSN	national	9:00 pm ET